Bechert, Nyback Named MAAC Performers of the Week

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - After their standout performances at the Brother Jasper Invitational last weekend, Tom Bechert (Munich, Germany) and Andrea Nyback (Koping, Sweden) of the Manhattan College indoor track & field team have been selected as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Performers of the Week. Bechert set a school-record in the heptathlon, while Nyback qualified for the ECAC Championships in the pentathlon.

This is the second consecutive MAAC Performer of the Week selection for Bechert, who had previously qualified for the IC4A Championships in three individual events. In his first heptathlon as a Jasper, he shattered Rajne Svenssohn's school mark by more than 300 points. With first place already secure, Bechert needed to run the final event, the 1000 meters, in just 3:15 to break the record. He ran a personal-best 2:43 to finish the seven-event competition with 5819 points, well ahead of Svenssohn's record 5503 set in 2004.

That total was also the best in the NCAA this season, and nearly 600 points better than the previous NCAA leader, Kent State's Dexter Shreve. Bechert is virtually guaranteed to be among the 16 heptathletes selected for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 8-9.

In the pentathlon, Nyback posted an ECAC-qualifying score of 3457 points. Needing to run the final event, the 800 meters, in 2:40 or better to reach the qualifying standard of 3450 points, she finished in 2:39.30 to meet the target. Nyback won the bronze medal in the pentathlon at the 2012 ECAC Championships.

The Jaspers have almost an entire month off before returning to competition with the NYC Gotham Cup at the New Balance Armory Track & Field Center on Jan. 11.

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